Influence of NPSB and Lime Rates on Yield and Yield Components of Bread Wheat (Tritcum aestivum L.) at Guji Highland

Background and Objective: A significant cereal crop in Ethiopia and the research region is bread wheat. However, due to the insufficient utilization of better cultivars, weeds, disease, low soil fertility, acidity and a lack of location-specific fertilizer recommendations, its yield is constrained. This study was conducted with the objective to assess the impact of blended NPSB fertilizer and lime rates on grain yield and yield components of bread wheat. Materials and Methods: A field experiment was carried out at the Bore Agricultural Research Center during the main cropping season including four levels of NPSB (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg NPSB ha^-1) and four levels of lime rates (0, 1.57, 3.14 and 4.713 t ha^-1). A factorial arrangement was used in three replications and the experiment was set up using a randomized complete block design. The plot size was 2.6×3 m (7.8 m²). Results: The combined application of 150 kg NPSB ha^-1 and 3.14 t lime ha^-1, the highest grain yield (4201 kg ha^-1), number of grains per spike (53.62), number of tillers per plant (2.64) and plant height (85.91 cm) were measured. However, the results of the economic study showed that the combined application of 100 kg NPSB and 3.14 t ha^-1 of lime produced an economic benefit of 115166.88 Birr ha^-1 with an acceptable marginal rate of return of 1779.17. Conclusion: Therefore, the application of 100 kg NPSB and 3.14 t lime ha^-1 is the best economic rate and recommended for the production of bread wheat in the study area and other areas with similar agro-ecologies.